Stopped for a possible DUI? Here are five tips to keep in mind.

By
Gower Law PLC
|January 16, 2016

First let’s state the obvious: if you are drunk, you should not be
driving. You never want to be in a situation where you can hurt others
or yourself. Drinking and driving can result in hefty fines, loss of your
license, a spike in car insurance and much more.

Now remember that you don’t have to be drunk to get pulled over and
arrested for drunk driving. Any person, with almost any amount of alcohol
in their system, can be accused of driving while under the influence and
receive a citation. If you are driving after drinking alcohol you are
responsible for any accident that you may be involved in, regardless of
the situation.

How can you avoid a DUI? You could enforce a zero tolerance law on yourself
and avoid drinking and driving altogether. However, this means that you
can’t enjoy a cocktail at happy hour with your coworkers, a beer
at a wedding reception, or wine with your dinner. If you don’t want
to give up alcohol at social functions there are steps you can take to
protect yourself against a DUI:

Obey traffic laws. This might seem like common sense but you need to be on your best driving
behavior to avoid a DUI. A police officer needs probable cause to make
a traffic stop. Use your blinker, make a complete halt at that four-way
stop, go the speed limit. Although you might be following all of the rules
you may still get pulled over. Be prepared.

Be courteous. You see the blue and red lights flashing behind you. Pull off to the right
side of the road and put both hands on your steering wheel. This action
will help the officer feel comfortable about his/her safety. Roll down
your window at the appropriate time to speak to the officer.

Keep important documents handy. Be sure to keep your insurance card and registration in a convenient place
so you don’t have to search through your glove box. Ask the officer
for permission before you reach for the documents.

Know your rights. Be polite, but be sure not to admit anything. You may want to be overly
chatty to relieve anxiety, but resist this urge. Any admission will be
used against you. You are under no obligation to provide the officer with
any information beyond that on your driver’s license, vehicle registration,
or proof of insurance.

The officer might ask you to step out of the car and perform physical tests.
You are not obligated to perform these tests and there isn’t a penalty
for refusing to do so. Politely decline this request. However, if the
situation arises you are required to take a chemical test.

Contact a DUI lawyer.

In the event that you are arrested be sure to exercise your right to an
attorney before you answer any further questions.

We have proven success with DUI cases. We will help defend and assist you
through the complex process of procedures involved with a DUI arrest.
Call us today so that we can get to work preparing your case and fully
protecting your rights.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.